Impact of COVID-19 on Migrants and refugees

 ( A WHO  study)

 

Canada's 37.7 million population consists of   22 % migrants as refugees from many countries such as Sri Lankan, Syria, Afghan. Iraq. Iran and North African countries. 40% of Canada’s popuation live in the province of Ontrario out of which 46.2% consists of magrants .  The Canadian government is very generous in providing financial assistance ,housing health service,  free  other benefits to them to get them gradually integrated with the main population. The first issue is for them to overcome language and cultural barriers. The second issue for them to get used to living in the Canadian cold climate. The migrants who have skills could quickly start their owb  business or find  jobs.

 

Migrants and refugees say COVID-19 has dramatically worsened their lives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a highly negative impact on the living and working conditions of refugees and migrants, reveals a new WHO study, launched today on International Migrants Day.

More than 30,000 refugees and migrants from different regions around the world participated in the first-ever survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental and physical health and their ability to work and support themselves. They were asked to grade the effect on a scale from 0 (nothing at all) to 10 (extreme). The average impact assessment reported was 7.5.

 "Refgees and migrants live and work in often-harsh conditions with inadequate access to health, housing, water, sanitation, and other basic services," says WHO Director-General. "It is vital for all countries to reduce barriers that prevent refugees and migrants from obtaining health care, and from including them in national health policies."

 

More than half the respondents across different parts of the world say that COVID-19 brought about a greater level of depression, fear, anxiety, and loneliness.  One in five also talked about a deterioration of mental health and increased use of drugs and alcohol.

 

Limited access to information due to language and cultural barriers, coupled with refugees and migrant communities' marginalization, place them amongst the hardest to reach populations when information is disseminated.

 

Undocumented migrants are often excluded from national health programs or social protection schemes that could facilitate access to health and social services. Many do not seek health care, including COVID-19, due to financial constraints or fear of deportation.

 

The report underlines the need and importance of including refugees and migrants in inclusive policy responses to COVID-19. The aim is to draw on the survey findings to expand research and evidence gathering from across the world to better understand how the pandemic has created increasingly difficult living conditions for refugees and migrants.